Life

I'm sitting here this morning, playing on the computer with Emma laying beside me which has caused me to start thinking. Life may not have turned out like I wanted, but I must admit that my life is pretty good. I may not have all of the "in" things - flatscreen tv, Wii, top of the line computer, new car or a big house, but what I do have is soooo much better. Emma and my boys are such a major part of my life. I can't have children, who knows why but they were not in God's plan for me, so I dote on my four legged babies. I believe God has sent me 4 extra special babies....each bringing something different to my life, each helping to brighten my days and giving me reasons to smile and laugh.


Emma, being a poodle, spends more time with me than the boys. She is my almost constant companion. I find myself talking to her and while she may not answer back with words, she does answer me. She has helped pull me out of my "self inflicted" shell. While we are out running around, she draws lots of attention. People are always stopping to pet her and chat for a few minutes. With Em at my side, I find myself getting out more, doing things I would never have done before.


Now the boys are a different story. I find myself rushing home after a weekend in Memphis just to see them, to bury my head in their manes and to drink in the sweet smell of horses and grass. They bring a peace to my soul that only God could grant. I am in awe of their beauty, the may they move, they way the wind plays with their manes and tails. Each one is unique, yet they are all equally beautiful.


Why did God decide to bless me in the way He has? What did I do to deserve these wonderful creatures? Why did He decide to entrust them to me? When I am with my four legged family, I feel more in touch with the Creator than when I am anywhere else. I can sense His presence, I know He truly exists and that there is no way that we are the results of a "big bang".

Paddy

There is something about Paddy that calls out to people. He has personality plus - he is a lover, a free spirit and a thinker. Paddy has a very gentle spirit. Like his two big brothers, he is a momma's boy. He is so considerate and insists on walking me to the gate every morning after I turn them out to graze. Then he stands there watching me back out of the drive as if he is making sure I safely get on my way.

As young as he is, he is wonderful with small children. He loves to have his ears scratched and enjoys being with people. He adores his big brothers. He and Nolan are best friends, but he knows that Streak will protect him from whatever scares him.

I love how Paddy "thinks" before doing what is asked of him. Paddy makes sure he completely understands what is being asked, what is expected of him, before he will do it. To be honest, I sometimes get a little frustrated, but then I realize that Paddy is just reinforcing the lessons that Streak taught me many years ago. Paddy is teaching me patience, that things will happen in their own time, not in mine. He is teaching me to slow down, to ask things in a simple fashion. He is reminding me to be honest with myself, to BE myself.

Many people thought I was crazy for getting Paddy....I had two horses already, what was I going to do with a third. Who knows they might be right about me being crazy, but life is for living and Paddy helps to brighten up my life. I may not have a huge savings account, drive a new truck, live in a big, fancy house, I don't even own my own land, but my bills are paid and I know what makes me happy and that is my boys.

Streak

Next week Streak will turn 26....I can't believe he is as old as he is.  One day he is creaking as he walks and the next he is acting like a 2 year old.  As he has aged, his star and strip have become wider - more smudged than it was in his youth.  He now has gray sprinkled throughout his coat...not noticable to most, but I see it.  Some days I wonder where time has gone....how did we both turn old without realizing it....why did I not enjoy every minute as I should have.  Streak has carried me many, many miles and has been a rock in my life.  No matter how bad or good things are or have been, he has been a constant for all of my adult life.  He has been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, he has listened to me talk about what is good in my life and what is bad....it does not matter to him what I talk about, he is always willing to listen.  Streak has also taught me many valuable lessons.  I have learned to listen to him, to trust him.  He has never put me in harms way and has done everything he could to let me know when I was putting myself in danger.  He has been a babysitter and taught my oldest nieces how to ride.  I never had to worry when they were on his back, I knew he would take care of them.  He would always take care of me, too.  Yet, when he thought I was taking things a lot more seriously than I should or that I was taking things for granted, he delighted in putting me on the ground.  

Over the past several years I have taken what he has taught me for granted, have forgotten many of his lessons.  Now as I watch my best friend age and realize that he will not always be here, I am trying to live life to the fullest....live the lessons he has taught.  I know he could be gone tomorrow or he might just hang on for a few more years...only God knows when Streak will be torn out of my life, but while I have him here, I am going to continue to learn from him.  I can't let the future dictate today, I am going to live in the moment and enjoy what time I have left with my best friend.

My Baby Girl

After I lost Johnny, I decided that my next dog would be completely opposite. I went from a 2.9 pound black and white chihuahua to a 58 pound brown poodle.....low maintenance to very high maintenance....a pocket puppy (literally) to a diva that takes up half of my bed. Emma is the complete opposite of Johnny.

I thought I wanted a black male standard poodle, but God had other plans. Then when it turned out that I was getting a girl, her name was going to be Lady Gillian. Turns out my niece, Alex, had a name picked out. Even when I picked out Em's registered name, Alex, Jennifer and MawMaw all vetoed my choice and insisted she be registered as Emma Marie Key. Now that Em has been with me 18 months, I must admit that she is absolutely perfect for me and her name fits her much better than the name I had picked out.

Emma lives a pretty charmed life. She eats the best food (holistic dog food plus cottage cheese, yogurt, fresh fruits and veggies), gets groomed on a regular basis, goes to daycare, has her Canine Good Citizenship Certificate and goes pretty much wherever I go.

While life is not always perfect and things are not always the way I want them to be, God has truly blessed me with my baby girl and my 3 wonderful boys.

Nolan turns 4

My little boy is growing up.  Cannot believe he is 4 today.  I remember the long wait for him to ship from Canada.  IMO, he was a gorgeous colt (my sister later told me she thought he was an ugly baby and could not understand what I saw in him - she has since changed her mind).  The anticipation that summer about killed me.  I would check numerous times a day to see if an updated picture of him had been posted.  It was agony to look through the new pics and not get a glimpse of him.  Yet when there was a new picture, I could not contain the excitement and pride I felt in my new baby boy.  My sisters and mother threw me a "foal shower" to help prepare for his arrival.  Then in September he finally was shipped to Auburn, Alabama.  The drive to Auburn that day seemed beyond slow, I swear I got caught at every traffic light, but I finally arrived.  It is amazing to me that with approximately 20 foals all grouped together, he was the only one I saw.   We did not get home until after dark that night and I got him settled in his temporary pen.  Not wanting to leave him alone, I drug a cot out and slept in his pen with him the first few nights.  I believe this is what gave us the bond that we have now.  

Now my little boy is grown up, ready to begin a new chapter in his life.  This summer he will be started under saddle and we will hit the trails together.  Explore new places, experience new adventures.  

Happy Birthday Lord Nolan!  

Happy Birthday Paddy!!!

Today Paddy is turning 2.  He is a registered bay roan quarter horse - registered name: Smooth Cuttin Peppy.  Paddy came from Foothills Ranch - www.foothillsranch.com and has the best personality, so willing to please, but has a mind of his own.  Suzanne and Miles put a lot of time, effort and money into producing wonderful foals.  Once the foals are on the ground, they continue their hard work in socializing and halter breaking each foal.  Suzanne is amazing in that she knows the personality of each broodmare and foal they have and can tell you if a particular foal will fit the purpose you need.  Paddy's sire is HQH Cuttin Snip aka Cutter and his dam is Jae Leokie Cinnamon (both bay roans).  Cutter foals have wonderful minds.   This year, Paddy has a full brother that was born April 30th.  If you are interested in a great quarter horse you need to check out the Foothill foals.  

Paddy is going to get another year of growing and being a baby before I start him under saddle.  He, as well as Nolan and Streak, are lifers for me - meaning they are not for sale.  So, I do not feel a need to rush his training.  I would rather take my time and know that it is done properly and that I am not stressing him or his bones.  

Happy Birthday My Baby Boy!  

Lord Nolan

Nolan was adopted through Foal Train and is a pmu foal (product of the premarine industry).  He is a Thoroughbred / Draft cross.  When I first started looking at PMU foals and found Foal Train, I researched the stallions they had listed.  Very quickly, I fell in love with a TB stallion named Polka Man on the "W" farm (Sanway Stock Farm).  He was the most gorgeous horse I had ever seen.  I made up my mind that I MUST have one of his foals - no other stallion would do.  When the foals started hitting the ground, I snatched up the first colt by Polka Man - a gorgeous bay that I named Sir Devlin.  A few weeks later, another colt by him was posted and there was just something about him that I could not get out of my mind.  I tried to figure out how I could afford 2 foals, but there was just no way.  Turns out that Fate had its own plans.  In June, I got a call and was informed that Devlin was killed in a freak accident - he had been struck my lightning.  My heart was broke.  Even though I had never met Devlin in person, he had embedded himself in my heart.  Devlin's death opened up the opportunity for me to get the 2nd foal that I had fallen in love with.  I was amazed that such a gorgeous colt was still available, but for some reason everyone had overlooked this boy.  I reserved colt #0914 and named him Lord Nolan after my favorite uncle.  Nolan has been a true blessing.  Seems that God knows what is best for us and He knew that Nolan was the perfect colt for me.  Nolan will be turning 4 on May 12th and I am preparing  him to start under saddle.  I am beyond blessed having my Roley Poley Noley in my life.  The awkward foal that was overlooked has turned into a stunning gelding.

Emma is my baby girl. She is a brown standard poodle and is 18 months old. Em is my first poodle and I must say she has me convinced that standard poodles are the best breed out there. She is beautiful, intelligent, fun loving, full of energy, graceful, and a love bug. One minute she is running around with a case of the zoomies and the next she is curled up next to me on the sofa. She loves life and lives it to the fullest. She is teaching me to enjoy life and not to care so much what others might think. Life is about being happy with who you are not what others think you are or should be.

Streak on April 21st.  Not to bad for a 26 yr old.  He was full of himself that morning.

Emma and My Boys

This blog is about my standard poodle - Emma Marie and my 3 boys (horses) - Streak (26 yr old quarter horse), Nolan (4 yr old American Warmblood) and Paddy (2 yr old quarter horse from www.foothillsranch.com).  

Emma and my boys are my life.  Can't have kids so these are my babies.

Emma goes to daycare while I am at work.  The boys live on 3 acres and have a nice barn as well as a run-in shed and a small ring in which to ride / work.  Streak is retired due to arthritis, Nolan will be started under saddle soon and Paddy gets to be a baby for another year.  All 3 of my boys are special in different ways.  I have had Streak for most of his life and he has been there when I needed a friend.  Nolan is named after my favorite uncle who passed away 3 years ago and Paddy is named after a dear friend and is from another wonderful friend's farm.  

I'll post when I can about what each one is up too and how life is going.